FREE ESSAY ON ANOREXIA

ANOREXIA

Each year millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes
life-threatening eating disorders. The vast majorities are adolescents and young adult
women. Approximately one percent of adolescent girls develop anorexia nervosa, a
dangerous condition in which they can literally starve themselves to death. Another two
to three percent develop bulimia nervosa, a destructive pattern of excessive overeating
followed by vomiting or other  purging  behaviors to control their weight. These eating
disorders also occur in men and older women, but much less frequently. The consequences
of eating disorders can be severe. For example, one in ten anorexia nervosa leads to
death from starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide. Fortunately, increasing awareness of
the dangers of eating disorders, sparked by medical studies and extensive media coverage,
has led many people to seek help. Nevertheless, some people with eating disorders refuse
to admit that they have a problem and do not get treatment. Family and friends can help
recognize the problem and encourage the person to seek treatment. 
Anorexia nervosa is a disorder where people intentionally starve themselves. It usually
starts around the time of puberty and involves extreme weight loss. Sometimes they must
be hospitalized to prevent starvation because food and weight become obsessions. For
some, the compulsives shows up in strange eating rituals, some even collect recipes and
prepare gourmet feasts for family and friends. Loss of monthly menstrual periods is
typical in women with this disorder and men with this disorder usually become impotent.
People with bulimia nervosa consume large amounts of food and then rid their bodies of
the excess calories by vomiting, abusing laxatives or exercising obsessively. Some use a
combination of all these forms of purging. Many individuals with bulimia  binge and purge
 in secret and maintain normal or above normal body weight, they can often successfully
hide their problem from others for years. As with anorexia, bulimia typically begins
during adolescence. The condition occurs most often in women but is also found in men.
Many individuals with bulimia, do not seek help until they reach their thirties or
forties. By then, their eating behavior is deeply ingrained and more difficult to
change.
Medical complications can frequently be a result of eating disorders. Individuals with
eating disorders, who use drugs to stimulate vomiting, may be in considerable danger, as
this practice increases the risk of heart failure. In patients with anorexia, starvation
can damage vital organs such as the heart and brain. To protect itself, the body shifts
into  slow gear : monthly menstrual periods stop, breathing, pulse and, blood pressure
rates drop, and thyroid function slows. Nails and hair become brittle, the skin dries,
yellows, and becomes covered with soft hair called Lanugo. Excessive thirst and frequent
urination may occur. Dehydration contributes to constipation, and reduced body fat leads
to lowered body temperature and inability to with stand cold. Mild anemia, swollen
joints, reduced muscles mass, and light-headedness also commonly occur in anorexia. If
the disorder becomes severe, patients may lose calcium from their bones, making them
brittle and prone to breakage. Scientists from the National Institute of Mental Health (
NIMH ), have also found that patients suffer from other psychiatric illnesses. They may
suffer from anxiety, personality or substance abuse disorders, and many are at a risk for
suicide. Obsessive compulsive disorder, an illness characterized by repetitive thoughts
and behaviors, can also accompany anorexia.
Bulimia nervosa patients- even those of normal weight- can severely damage their bodies
by frequent binge eating and purging. In rare instances, binge eating causes the stomach
to rupture; purging may result in heart failure due to loss of vital minerals, such as
potassium. Vomiting causes other less deadly, but serious, problems. The acid in vomit
wears the outer layer of the teeth and can cause scarring on the backs of hands when
fingers are pushed down the throat to induce vomiting. Further the esophagus becomes
inflamed and glands near the cheeks become swollen. As in anorexia, bulimia may lead to
irregular menstrual periods and interest in sex may also diminish. Some individuals with
bulimia struggle with addictions, including abuse if drugs and alcohol, and compulsive
stealing. Like individuals with anorexia, many people with bulimia suffer from clinical
depression, anxiety obsessive compulsive disorder, and other psychiatric illnesses. These
problems place them at high risk for suicidal behavior. People who binge eats are usually
overweight, so they are prone to medical problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood
pressure, and diabetes. Research, from the NIMH scientists, has shown that individuals
with binge eating disorder have high rates of co-occurring psychiatric illnesses,
especially depression.
Eating disorders are most successfully treated when diagnosed early. Unfortunately, even
when family members confront the ill person about his or her behavior, or physicians make
a diagnosis, individuals with eating disorders may deny that they have a problem. Thus,
people with anorexia may not receive medical or psychological attention until they have
already become dangerously thin and malnourished. People with bulimia are often normal
weight and are able to hide their illness from others for years. Eating disorders in
males may be overlooked because anorexia and bulimia are relatively rare in boys and men.
Consequently, getting and keeping people with these disorders into treatment can be
extremely difficult.
In any case, it cannot be overemphasized how important treatment is for the people who
have these disorders. The longer eating behaviors persist, the more difficult it is to
overcome the disorder and its effect on the body. If an eating disorder is suspected,
particularly if it involves weight loss, the first step is a complete physical
examination to rule out any other illnesses. Once an eating disorder is diagnosed, the
clinician must determine whether the patient is in immediate medical danger and requires
hospitalization. While most patients can be treated as outpatients, some need hospital
care. Conditions warranting hospitalization include excessive and rapid weight loss,
serious metabolic disturbances, clinical depression or risk of suicide, severe binge
eating and purging, or psychosis. The complex interaction of emotional and physiological
problems in eating disorders calls for a comprehensive treatment plan, involving a
variety of experts and approaches. Ideally the treatment team includes an internist, a
nutritionist, an individual psychotherapist, and a psychopharmacologist. To help those
with eating disorders deal with their illness and underlying emotional issues, some form
of psychotherapy is usually needed. Group therapy, in which people share their
experiences with others, has been especially effective for individuals with bulimia.
NIMH supported scientist, have examined the effectiveness of combining psychotherapy and
medications. In a recent study of bulimia, researchers have found that both intensive
group therapy and antidepressants medications, combined or alone, benefited patients. In
another study of bulimia, the combined use of cognitive behavioral therapy and
antidepressant medications was most beneficial. This combination treatment was
particularly effective in preventing relapse once medications were discontinued. For
patients with binge eating disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressant
medications may also prove to be useful. For anorexia, preliminary evidence shows that
some antidepressant medications may be effective when combined with other forms of
treatment. Fluoxetine has also been useful in treating some patients with binge eating
disorder and depression.
The efforts of mental health professionals need to be combined with those of other health
professionals to obtain the best treatment. Physicians treat any medical complications,
and nutritionists advise on diet and eating regimens. The challenge of treating eating
disorders is made more difficult by the metabolic changes associated with them. Just to
maintain a stable weight, individuals with anorexia may actually have to consume more
calories than someone of similar weight and age without an eating disorder. This is
important, because consuming calories is exactly what the person with anorexia wishes to
avoid, yet must do to regain the weight necessary for recovery. In contrast, some normal
weight people with bulimia may gain excess weight if they consume the number of calories
required to maintain normal weight in others of similar size and age.
Treatment can save the life of someone with an eating disorder. Friends, relatives,
teachers, and physicians all play an important role in helping the ill person start with
a treatment program. Encouragement, caring, and persistence, as well as information about
eating disorders and their dangers, may be needed to convince the ill person to get help,
stick with treatment, or try again. Family members and friends can call local hospitals
or university medical centers to find out about eating disorder clinics and clinicians
experienced in treating the illnesses, for the college students, treatment programs may
be available in school counseling centers.
Family and friends should read as mush as possible about eating disorders, so they can
help the person with the illness understand his or her problem. Many local mental health
organizations and the self help groups provide free literature on eating disorders. Some
of these groups also provide treatment program referrals and information on local
self-help groups. Once the person gets help, he or she will continue to needs lots of
understanding and encouragement to stay in treatment.
NIMH continues its search for new and better treatments for eating disorders. Congress
has designated the 1990's as the  Decade of the Brain,  making the prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of all brain and mental disorders a national research priority. This
research promises to yield even more hope for patients and their families by providing a
greater understanding of the causes and complexities of eating disorders.